An opinion essay is a structured piece of writing in which the author expresses their point of view on a specific subject. In an opinion essay, you should back up your perspective with solid reasoning and examples.
Including the conflicting perspective of your opinion is also suggested. However, you should disprove that conflicting opinion in your essay. At this point, you might be thinking about the difference between an opinion essay and an argumentative or persuasive essay. The differences are actually pretty simple:
- The writer of a persuasive or argumentative essay attempts to get the reader to agree with their point of view.
- In an opinion essay, the writer expresses their point of view and backs it up with statistics, proofs, and illustrations, but they do not attempt to persuade the reader.
Now, here are the steps you should follow in order to write a perfect opinion essay.
Step 1: Gather information
You must first collect facts to justify your point of view before writing your essay. Make sure the information you gather supports your claimed position. While gathering information, you should ask yourself some questions:
- What do I want to tell my reader?
- What are the key points that my essay can cover?
- Are there some inconsistencies or contradictions among the points?
- Is there any way I can strengthen any of my arguments?
Answering these questions will help you see your argument critically and solve any issues it might have.
Step 2: Prepare an outline
Preparing an outline is one of the most useful things you can do while writing any kind of essay. In an opinion essay, a well-prepared outline accounts for about 70% of the work.
Preparing an outline helps you in two ways:
- It eliminates the fear caused by the blank page in front of you.
- It helps you organize your scattered thoughts.
Here are the ways you should be utilizing the main sections of your academic essay. (These are applicable for all types of essays.)
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The introduction
Write a thesis statement with a list of arguments to back it up. Offer your readers a hook to keep them interested in the subject.
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The body paragraphs
Divide your argument into several paragraphs, each with its own set of points, explanations, assertions, and evidence.
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The conclusion
Reaffirm the thesis statement and summarize the essay’s main points at the conclusion of the essay.
Step 3: Write an introduction
The introduction paragraph serves as a kind of road map for the rest of your essay. You can start your essay in a variety of ways, including:
- Openly addressing the reader
- Incorporating a quote, direct expression, or a line from a book or play into the mix.
- Presenting a rhetorical question
For our sample opinion essay, we have decided to answer the following question:
- “Some people choose to live in a small town setting. Others would rather reside in a large city. Which location would you like to call home?”
Opinion essay introduction example
The discussion of small town versus big city is one that everyone has specific responses for. Opening sentence: Introduction to the subject. Sets the ground for the essay. This discussion is not one that has a clear and definitive answer, as personal backgrounds and preferences play a huge role in the decision. Detail: Indicator that the topic at hand is a diverse one that can have varying answers. Also predicates that the writer will be presenting their opinion with back up information As for me, I would prefer living in a big city for a number of reasons such as the easy transportation, better job opportunities, and more diverse culture. Thesis statement: Presents the writer’s opinion on the subject and summarizes the main points that will be discussed in the paper
Step 4: Write body paragraphs
Your thesis statement must be supported in the body of your paper. Here are some tips for you to use in your body paragraphs.
Body paragraph tips
- You should write several paragraphs, each expressing a different point of view backed up by proof.
- Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, which is the key concept that you will support with proof.
- You should use formal language. This means that you should avoid slang, idioms, and casual expressions.
- Like any other essay, you should cite the sources in APA or MLA to avoid plagiarism while writing your essay.
- In this type of essay, you should usually use present tenses.
Using transition word & sentences
You should use a variety of transition sentences and transition words for different situations.
Transition words for arguments
one reason for... is / many people believe that... / since... / due to...)Transition words for voicing views
to my mind... / I am convinced that... / from my point of view...Transition words for introducing new concepts
to my mind... / I am convinced that... / from my point of view...Opinion essay body example
In my opinion, easy transportation is one of the most important aspects when it comes to choosing a place to live. Topic sentence: This sentence shows what the paragraph is going to be about. The emphasis on the “opinion” makes the reader see that the writer is not imposing their opinion Our busy lives require us to commute to many places on a daily basis. Having easy transportation opportunities and therefore saving money by using public transportation is a big bonus for me. Specifying opinion: Specification of the situation which emphasizes the individuality of the opinion. The phrase “for me” is a key factor. In those days where 24 hours feels so limited, dealing with finding the correct transportation necessitates so much energy that most working people cannot provide. Base: Even though the essay is a personal opinion essay, you should present the base for your opinion. Our busy lives require us to commute to many places on a daily basis. Supporting sentence: Supporting sentence that lays the ground for the concluding sentence that states the reason for opinion clearly. Since I am one of those people, I would prefer living in a big city. Concluding sentence: The sentence that gets its support from the points mentioned in the paragraph. End the paragraph with a strong note
Step 5: Write a conclusion
Now, you should write a paragraph at the end of your opinion essay in which you reaffirm your viewpoint with brief sentences. Your paper comes to a close with the conclusion of your opinion essay.
Opinion essay conclusion example
After all, I believe that living in a big city is the ideal choice for me. Suppose you think you have a similar lifestyle with me. In that case, you should definitely consider living in a big city. Opening sentence: Reaffirming the thesis statement as well as presenting a suggestion which makes the reader engage more deeply with the points of the essay and adds to the credibility of the arguments made. Living in a big city makes things easier for busy people like us. First, it offers a wide range of public transportation that helps you get from one place to another easily. This is important as wasting precious time trying to figure out a way to go from one place to another is exhausting. Reasoning: Reclaiming and summarizing the reason behind one of the arguments. Secondly, it has many job opportunities for you. Living in a small town might result in you working in a job you do not like. However, big cities make this probability almost impossible with their job opportunities from various sectors. Summarizing: Summarizing another argument made in the essay. stating why a small town is not suitable for this lifestyle strengthens the argument. Living in a big city also introduces you to many different cultures and lifestyles, therefore broadening your horizons. This is important for me because I believe that a wide world view always helps you progress in life. Emphasizing individuality: Summary of another argument that also emphasizes the individuality of the opinion. So, these are the reasons I have always preferred to live in a big city over a small town. Your different lifestyle might make it easier for you to live in a small town, but for me, that feels like a very distant possibility. Concluding sentence: Concluding words that end the essay on a strong note.
Attention
You should avoid adding a new concept to the essay or apologizing for your viewpoints in the conclusion paragraph. You may, however, finish your essay with a note, a challenging question, or a suggestion to make it more effective.Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for reading. If you need further information, feel free to have a look at our essay samples or contact us at live chat.
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